ASUS Prime Z790-P DDR5 ATX Motherboard Review: The Workhorse for Your Next-Gen Build?

There’s a unique thrill that comes with planning a new PC build. You meticulously research the CPU, agonize over the GPU, and calculate the perfect amount of RAM. But in this sea of high-performance components, the motherboard often gets treated as a mere foundation—a simple circuit board to plug everything into. I’ve been there. My first build, years ago, was a masterclass in compromise. I splurged on the processor and graphics card, only to cheap out on the motherboard. The result? A system plagued by instability, limited upgrade paths, and a constant, nagging feeling that I had left performance on the table. It was a critical lesson: a PC is only as strong as its weakest link, and that link is frequently the motherboard. It’s the central nervous system of your entire machine, dictating not just what components you can use today, but what your PC can become tomorrow. Choosing the right one isn’t just about compatibility; it’s about unlocking the full potential of every other part you’ve invested in.

What to Consider Before Buying a Z790 Motherboard

A motherboard is more than just an item; it’s the key solution for ensuring seamless communication, power delivery, and connectivity between all your high-performance hardware. A quality motherboard like those based on the Z790 chipset provides a stable platform for overclocking, supports the latest high-speed memory and storage standards, and offers the bandwidth necessary for next-generation graphics cards. The main benefit is creating a balanced, powerful, and future-proof system that doesn’t bottleneck its own components. Without a capable motherboard, your expensive CPU might be starved for power, your ultra-fast NVMe SSD could run at a fraction of its speed, and your upgrade options could be severely limited within a year or two.

The ideal customer for a Z790 motherboard is a PC enthusiast, gamer, or content creator who is building a new system with a 12th, 13th, or 14th generation Intel Core processor and wants to leverage the latest technologies like DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0. This user plans to extract maximum performance from their components, potentially through overclocking, and values a robust feature set that will last them for several years. Conversely, this type of product might not be suitable for those building a budget-oriented PC, a simple office machine, or a system based on an AMD processor. For those users, a more modest B-series Intel board or an AMD-compatible A-series or B-series board would offer a much better value proposition without providing features they would never use.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Form Factor & Case Compatibility: The ASUS Prime Z790-P DDR5 ATX Motherboard uses the standard ATX form factor. Before purchasing, you must ensure your PC case can accommodate an ATX board, which measures 30.5 x 24.4 cm. Trying to fit an ATX board into a Micro-ATX or Mini-ITX case is a non-starter, so always double-check your case specifications to guarantee a smooth installation.
• CPU & RAM Compatibility: This board is built around the Intel Z790 chipset for the LGA 1700 socket, supporting modern Intel Core processors. Critically, this specific model is for DDR5 RAM only. Do not purchase DDR4 RAM for this board. Check the board’s Qualified Vendor List (QVL) on the manufacturer’s website to ensure the specific RAM kit you’re buying is officially supported for optimal stability and performance.
• Power Delivery & VRMs: The 14+1 DrMOS power stages on this board are a key feature, designed to deliver clean and stable power to the CPU, especially under heavy loads or when overclocking. A robust Voltage Regulator Module (VRM) system with adequate cooling, like the large heatsinks seen here, is non-negotiable for anyone running a high-end Core i7 or i9 processor. Insufficient power delivery can lead to thermal throttling and system instability.
• Storage & Expansion Slots: Consider your future needs. This board offers three M.2 slots for high-speed NVMe SSDs and a top PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for the latest graphics cards. This is a strong feature set for a Prime-series board, providing ample room for a boot drive, a games drive, and a scratch disk without resorting to slower SATA drives. Ensure this matches your long-term storage and expansion plans.

Keeping these factors in mind, the ASUS Prime Z790-P DDR5 ATX Motherboard stands out in several areas. You can explore its detailed specifications here.

While the ASUS Prime Z790-P DDR5 ATX Motherboard is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

Unboxing the ASUS Prime Z790-P: A Clean Slate for Power Users

Pulling the ASUS Prime Z790-P DDR5 ATX Motherboard from its anti-static bag, the first impression is one of clean, utilitarian design. The Prime series has never been about flashy RGB or aggressive, gamer-centric aesthetics. Instead, you get a handsome black PCB accented with silver and white heatsinks and a subtle, geometric pattern. It feels professional and purposeful. The VRM heatsinks are reassuringly large and hefty, suggesting a serious approach to thermal management. The board itself has a good weight to it, feeling solid and well-constructed without the excessive plastic shrouding found on more expensive models. In the box, we found the essentials: SATA cables, M.2 mounting hardware, a user manual, and, notably, a standard, punch-out I/O shield. While an integrated I/O shield is a premium feature we love to see, its absence here is an understandable cost-saving measure for a board in this segment. Compared to its predecessors, the Z790-P clearly prioritizes function over form, focusing the budget on core performance features like the power delivery system and next-gen connectivity.

Under the Heatsinks: A Performance Deep Dive

A motherboard’s spec sheet only tells half the story. The real test is how it performs under pressure, how intuitive it is to build with, and how well its features integrate into a cohesive, stable system. We paired the ASUS Prime Z790-P DDR5 ATX Motherboard with an Intel Core i7-13700K, 32GB of Corsair Vengeance DDR5-6000 RAM, and a Samsung 980 Pro NVMe SSD to push it through its paces. Our goal was to evaluate it not just as a list of features, but as the heart of a modern, high-performance PC. From power stability to the user experience in the BIOS, we examined every facet of this board.

Power Delivery and CPU Performance: The 14+1 DrMOS Heartbeat

The centerpiece of any enthusiast motherboard is its power delivery, and this is where the ASUS Prime Z790-P first impressed us. The 14+1 DrMOS power stage configuration is a significant step up from what you’d typically find on entry-level boards. In our testing, this translated directly to rock-solid stability for our Core i7-13700K, even when pushing all performance cores to their limits during extended Cinebench R23 runs and 4K video encoding projects. We monitored the VRM temperatures closely, and the large, chunky heatsinks did their job admirably, keeping temps well within a safe operating range without any direct airflow. This robust thermal solution means the board doesn’t just support high-end CPUs on paper; it can sustain their performance over long, demanding workloads without throttling. For builders looking to run an unlocked K-series Intel processor, this is paramount. The power delivery is clean and consistent, providing a reliable foundation that gives you the confidence to enable multi-core enhancement and let the CPU stretch its legs. While we didn’t push for extreme manual overclocks, the headroom is clearly there for those who enjoy fine-tuning their system for every last drop of performance.

Next-Generation Connectivity: PCIe 5.0, Triple M.2, and DDR5 Unleashed

Where the ASUS Prime Z790-P DDR5 ATX Motherboard truly shines is in its forward-looking feature set. The inclusion of a primary PCIe 5.0 x16 slot is a statement of intent, ensuring that the board will be ready for the next generation of bandwidth-hungry graphics cards whenever they arrive. While current GPUs don’t yet saturate the PCIe 4.0 standard, having 5.0 support provides invaluable peace of mind for the future. More immediately impactful is the storage configuration. Having three M.2 slots is a game-changer for system builders. It allows for a tiered storage setup—an ultra-fast boot drive, a large-capacity drive for games, and another for project files or a scratch disk—all without a single SATA cable in sight. We loaded all three slots and saw no performance degradation, a testament to the Z790 chipset’s ample PCIe lane allocation. Paired with DDR5 memory, the system felt incredibly responsive. Enabling the XMP profile for our 6000MHz kit was a one-click affair in the BIOS, and the performance uplift in memory-sensitive applications and certain games was immediately noticeable. This combination of next-gen features makes the board feel less like a budget option and more like a smart, long-term investment. If you’re ready to build a system that leverages these powerful new standards, you can find the latest price for the ASUS Prime Z790-P here.

Installation and BIOS Experience: A Builder’s Perspective

The building process revealed some of the board’s practical strengths and weaknesses, many of which were echoed in user feedback we analyzed. On the positive side, the ASUS UEFI BIOS remains a gold standard for its blend of simplicity and depth. The EZ Mode provides a clear, graphical overview of the system for beginners, while the Advanced Mode unlocks a granular level of control that enthusiasts demand. We found setting fan curves, enabling XMP, and changing the boot order to be completely intuitive. However, the physical installation had a few quirks. As one user noted, the 8-pin CPU power connector is tucked away in the top-left corner, a standard but consistently frustrating location that can be difficult to reach once the board is in the case, especially with a large air cooler installed. This is a common complaint across many motherboards, but it’s a frustration nonetheless.

More critically, we encountered the exact issue a French user reported: our board arrived with an older BIOS version that did not support the 13th-gen i7-13700K out of the box. The system would not POST. Because this board lacks a BIOS FlashBack feature (which allows updating the BIOS without a CPU), we had to source a 12th-gen CPU to perform the update. This is a significant potential pitfall for builders. While newer stock (as one German user received the “-M1” revision) may have an updated BIOS, it’s a lottery. We strongly advise buyers to be prepared for this possibility. Furthermore, criticisms from an Italian user about the build quality of accessories hold some weight; the punch-out I/O shield feels flimsy and dated compared to the integrated shields on competitor boards. These are the trade-offs made to keep the board’s price competitive.

What Other Users Are Saying

Synthesizing feedback from various builders provides a well-rounded picture of the ASUS Prime Z790-P DDR5 ATX Motherboard. The positive sentiment largely centers on its value and future-proof feature set. One user praised it for offering “everything you need for durability, especially thanks to its 3 NVMe ports and its PCIe 5.0 port.” Another was thrilled with the performance after a successful build for a friend, calling the BIOS “very complete and simple to use.” The board’s sober, professional design was also a recurring point of positive commentary.

However, the negative feedback highlights two critical, recurring issues. The most significant is the potential for receiving a board with an outdated BIOS. One frustrated user had to pay a repair shop €95 to flash the BIOS with an older CPU just to get their new i7-13700K to work, noting that the boards had been “in storage for too long.” This is a major hurdle that can stop a build dead in its tracks. Another point of contention, raised by a particularly disappointed Italian buyer, was the perceived cheapness of the materials, especially the I/O shield, which they called “PESSIMO!” (terrible). While they also received a defective unit, their comments on the feel and quality of the accessories reflect the cost-saving measures inherent in the Prime series.

How the ASUS Prime Z790-P Stacks Up Against the Competition

No product exists in a vacuum. To understand the true value of the ASUS Prime Z790-P DDR5 ATX Motherboard, it’s essential to compare it against other options in the market, especially those catering to different platforms and price points.

1. ASRock B450M-HDV R4.0 Motherboard

The ASRock B450M-HDV R4.0 is a direct competitor from a different ecosystem, built for AMD’s AM4 platform. This is a budget-focused Micro-ATX board designed for older Ryzen processors (1000 to 3000 series, with BIOS updates for newer ones). It uses DDR4 memory and features only one M.2 slot and a PCIe 3.0 interface. A user would choose this ASRock board over the ASUS Prime Z790-P for one reason: budget. It’s a significantly cheaper platform for building a basic gaming or office PC, especially if the user already has an AM4 CPU. It lacks every modern feature of the Z790-P—no PCIe 5.0, no DDR5, no 2.5 Gb LAN, and a much weaker power delivery system—making it unsuitable for high-performance, forward-looking builds.

2. ASUS Prime A520M-A II/CSM MicroATX Motherboard

This board is another AMD AM4 option from ASUS’s own Prime lineup. The A520M-A II is an entry-level Micro-ATX board, also using DDR4 memory. It represents a step up from the B450 by officially supporting 3rd Gen Ryzen CPUs out of the box and featuring a PCIe 4.0-capable M.2 slot. However, it is still generations behind the Z790-P. A builder would opt for the A520M-A II for a cost-effective, small form factor AMD build. It’s a solid choice for a home theater PC or a budget gaming rig paired with a Ryzen 5 CPU, but it cannot compete with the Z790-P’s robust power delivery, expansive storage options, or next-generation I/O and memory support. It serves a completely different, more budget-conscious segment of the market.

3. MSI PRO Z790-P WIFI Motherboard ATX

The MSI PRO Z790-P WIFI is the most direct competitor to the ASUS Prime Z790-P. Both are ATX boards based on the same Z790 chipset, support DDR5, and feature PCIe 5.0. The MSI board, however, offers a few key advantages for a slightly higher price. It includes built-in Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth, which the ASUS board lacks, and it features four M.2 slots instead of three. A builder might prefer the MSI board if they require wireless connectivity out of the box or need that extra M.2 slot for an extreme storage configuration. The choice between these two often comes down to brand preference, current pricing, and whether the integrated Wi-Fi is a must-have feature, as their core performance capabilities are very similar.

Final Verdict: Is the ASUS Prime Z790-P DDR5 ATX Motherboard the Right Choice for You?

After extensive testing and analysis, we believe the ASUS Prime Z790-P DDR5 ATX Motherboard successfully carves out its niche as a high-value, no-frills gateway to the latest Intel platform. Its strengths are significant: the 14+1 DrMOS power delivery is more than capable of handling powerful Core i7 and i9 processors, while the inclusion of PCIe 5.0, DDR5 support, and three M.2 slots provides a fantastic, future-proof foundation. This is a workhorse board that prioritizes core performance features over aesthetic fluff like RGB lighting and plastic shrouds.

However, it is not without its compromises. The basic I/O shield feels dated, and the lack of a BIOS FlashBack feature is a critical omission that can cause major headaches for builders using the latest CPUs. If you’re a PC builder who values performance-per-dollar and is comfortable with the possibility of needing to perform a BIOS update, this board offers tremendous value. It delivers the essential features of the Z790 platform without the premium price tag. For those who demand a more polished out-of-the-box experience or require built-in Wi-Fi, looking at slightly more expensive alternatives like MSI’s offering might be a better choice. But for the pragmatic enthusiast, this board is a powerful and intelligent investment.

If you’ve decided the ASUS Prime Z790-P DDR5 ATX Motherboard is the right fit, you can check its current price and purchase it here.